MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
But are they happy being left for a bit and then wound again
No problem at all, I swap between two Heimdallr automatics and I can’t be arsed to keep picking the unworn one and handwinding it just to keep it going, I just either pick it up and wear it for a few minutes and then set it, or hand-wind it - mine have Seiko NH36 movements which are hackable, making it that much easier to reset, but a few seconds out is hardly an issue anyway.
By the way, did anyone see Antiques Roadshow tonight? A Rolex Sub with an amazing history and provenance, belonging to an ex-Navy SAR crewman and diver, with photos showing him wearing it, and a very rare version too - £50-60,000!
Was it a Military issue sub ?
If so, the £60k would be bargain basement.
Didn't see but believe i it was a bird's beak crown guard 5513
It had a line printed on the dial that identified it as a rare none radioactive dial lume one. The line was only put on a few apparently before the tritium ones became standard.
Had the original strap too. Expert said that most got chucked and replaced through their lives so again rare.
New watch day! Whim bought a Super Compressor in the Christopher Ward sale. All the black dials had a slightly misprinted dial which had the “super compressor” text marginally to the left. Not noticeable on the wrist so doesn’t bother me. I guess that’s why they were cheap! The raised indices and domed crystal play nice with the light, but white bezel and dark dial make it look small even though it’s a 41mm case. Not sure about it but I’ve got 60 days to make my mind up!
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I think I like that Kato, certainly a little different.
Nice that. Interesting choice to make the rotating dial internal as I guess it means you cant operate it when its wet. But how many if us do that anyway!
Cant see the text alignment issue on the photo at least. Seems like you got a good deal.
You should be able to operate it when it's wet, I've got a watch with a rotating internal bezel and there's no issues with doing so.
No 86 of a limited 100:
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Not normally a fan of two tone straps but that suits the watch really well, nice and chunky.
yeah, nice Gecko' that. Partial to names in italics, always looks classier. Got a Sumo 001 with italicised Automatic, the later ones just look cheap to me.
Thanks. It was a bit of an instinctive buy TBH after it appeared on my screen whilst I was pondering Duty & VAT with a Stienhart GMT in the basket. It has various points of difference;
a) I wouldn't have normally chosen two tone but I think it works with the gilt hands and batons, a bit chintzy when needed and I don't have another 2T.
b) I've never owned a jubilee
c) Although I could have had the ETA movement the PT5000 is cheaper and is a current talking point
d) I love the fact it has dual sapphire, with AR on the front which is domed.
e) The vintage look, with very subtle echos of a 55 fathoms.
f) its a limited run.
It actually wears a little smaller than it appears in the photo, and is relatively light at 135g on a 7.5inch wrist. Wearing it overnight, the Lume was pretty decent at 05:30 this morning.
Hmm, not seen those Geckota watches before, what's the build quality like? I guess compared to a similar priced Seiko?
@lunge - I'll try to be neutral...
The Jubilee is better than the Seiko's I've had in my hand, no jangling on-wrist at all. Everything seems perfectly spaced, curves and blends nicely at the lugs and was firm at the split-pins for adjusting. It has x 2 micro adjust.
The actual piece has no backplay in the bezel, it highly polished and the minute hand is close to sweeping (its 28,8000). Read up on the PT5000, its been measured at better than the ETA it clones and above COSC. The bezel is printed under an acrylic layer which glints nicely and the batons have a nice depth. Everything is straight and accurate, with 200m water resistance.
Better than Seiko? Its depends which one really, but I'd say its very good quality for the price and for me with an Urchin, Samurai and Arnie in my collection much of the appeal is thats its NOT a Seiko. On par with the Samurai I'd say, with a slightly higher quality bracelet. Oh, and the presentation packaging was apple-like also.
I bought mine through WatchGecko where its cheaper and has a Watchseek discount code.
New watch day!
Finally dropped the $$$ on this after pondering it for 18 months:
wrist shot to follow
I bought a BB58 blue last week to celebrate a new job. Super pleased with it. The first serious watch in my collection. Build quality is amazing, the spring loaded ceramic balls on the bracelet clasp are an example of the unseen attention to detail.
Tudor bracelets are fantastic although I don’t like the fake rivets on some of the Black Bays. Love my BB41 and would definitely buy another Tudor
Need photos of this IWC! That’s a handsome watch!
Tudor bracelets are fantastic although I don’t like the fake rivets on some of the Black Bays.
I agree with both points. That said, I find the faux rivets far less offensive on the real thing than in photos. Presumably because when the watch is on my wrist I don't really look at the side of the bracelet.
Not a fan of the gilt colour on the BB58 black either, hence why I went for the BB58 blue.
Right, this is 'complete'. Took ages for the strap to come from Barton Watchbands in 'merica, but it was really worth the wait. Comes with 2 lengths of hole end for slim or big wrists, the long one would go over a wetsuit for diving tool. Quick release spring bars and there's a nudger in the keeper that sits in the square hole at the end of the strap to keep it in place. Arguably it's too nice for the watch!
Oh yes, and I polished the sides of the case to give it a bit more interest than the fully brushed look.
Quite fancy a new G Shock but theres so many to choose from I'm like a rabbit in the headlights... thinking mudmaster
Oh yes, and I polished the sides of the case to give it a bit more interest than the fully brushed look.
I'm glad you did, it would have been quite boring and plain otherwise 🤣
Quite fancy a new G Shock but theres so many to choose from I’m like a rabbit in the headlights… thinking mudmaster
The g shock outlet sometimes has some great stuff. I have one from there . The tin had a tiny chip=50% off.
50 today, 1 min left and no silly rash purchase, Bottle of wine, rum and coke, cheese board and cured meats underbelt, hitting Tz-FS and ebay. What could go wrong?
Today, I have been mostly eating/wearing Eddies Navigator and an Omega Good Planet Seamaster Ti.
tthew - check out Eddies new Caribbean releases that are coming out very soon.
Not sure if the Neighbours want Divine-you think your a man at this volume.
The g shock outlet sometimes has some great stuff. I have one from there . The tin had a tiny chip=50% off.
Good call, just had a glance and nothing I fancy right now but some out of stock ones at a heck of a bargain! Will keep an eye on it.
Ok so found my Rolex sub the other day and put it on for a minute then realised just how crap the bracelet is compared to my other watches.
Recommendations for a leather job for a non date steel bezel sub please. Needs to be infinitely adjustable so, deployment versions ?
I have used hirsch straps on my brietling for the last ten years or so, I just swap the breitling tinware over. I believe they do deployment buckles although I’ve not tried them. Their straps are good quality and have a bit of weight to them.
check out Eddies new Caribbean releases that are coming out very soon.
I had a search for this, are you referring to Timefactors? looks like the like who runs that is called Eddie.
I sent that Super Compressor back. The misprinted dial was annoying me and £500 was cheap If I loved it but something wasn't right with it. Couldn't say what I disliked but the more I looked at it the more "meh" I got.
Strap was lovely though
Tempted to try an Apple Watch you know, but would relegate my "proper" watches to jewellery? I only use my Garmin for work, running or cycling
So apparently these are now selling for near 100k. Any suggestions what I should replace it with?
Tempted to try an Apple Watch you know, but would relegate my “proper” watches to jewellery?
Depends why you want to try it.
I wear a Garmin activity tracker on my right wrist, use it to monitor sleep, HR and has notifications from my phone. It's nowhere near the functionality of the Apple Watch but is a good compromise. It also doesn't look like I'm wearing 2 watches as I too like to wear a mechanical watch on my left wrist.
So apparently these are now selling for near 100k. Any suggestions what I should replace it with?
Wow.
It's a beautiful watch but for £100k you can take your pick as to what next. Unless of course it'll be worth £150k next year in which case I may keep hold of it!
jeffc
Full Member
So apparently these are now selling for near 100k. Any suggestions what I should replace it with?
🙂
Quite fancy a new G Shock but theres so many to choose from I’m like a rabbit in the headlights… thinking mudmaster
You'll not get much love for that on here
My three G's
MTG-B1000
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Mudmaster GWG-1000
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Full Metal Square GMW-B5000
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You’ll not get much love for that on here
Of those 3, the top one's cluttered and hard to read and I've never cared much for the squares. I really like the GWG-1000 though. There's no point trying for subtle with a G and that one just screams GNARR at you without a hint of self conciousness!
This is my G-Shock, AWG 101. it's probably my most worn watch, certainly is the last 12 months as I barely leave the house so don't put on a good watch. It's easily 15 years old, solar powered so never needs a battery and pretty much indestructible.
Love that square Casio.
Re Apple watches, my 'proper' watches don't get a look in since I got mine and I'm not really sure why. I have it on silent all the time and it sucks *for me* as a running watch despite what Rainmaker says.
So apparently these are now selling for near 100k. Any suggestions what I should replace it with?
Er, a house?! (albeit a small one in a fairly inexpensive area)
Nice problem to have. 👍
That tissot looks a bit too £50 seiko for my liking. Shame they didn’t put an auto movement in there.
I couldn't get past the PRX branding on the dial, looks like it should be on the back of a modded Impreza not the dial of a fairly classic looking watch.
I'm not averse to a nice quartz watch but that isn't one.
Thought I’d show an update to my Heimdallr Tuna, since I had the new movement fitted, along with the MarineMaster 300-style face and hands, and I’ve managed to remove the original ceramic bezel insert and fit the fully lumed one I originally bought for my aborted SKX700 mod. Although they don’t really show very well in the photos, I’ve also fitted some custom stainless Torx bolts that hold the shroud in place, as a final touch.
If anyone has or gets a Tuna, and wants replacement screws, Allen, Phillips or Torx, Andy Stockley is your man, contact him at tunascrews@gmail.com.
He’s a really smashing bloke to deal with, and very helpful, it took two goes to get mine to fit, the Heimdallr shroud holes are very slightly smaller than actual Seiko ones.
Really chuffed with the results.
Prefer my 70s Tissot to the modern version
Love the modded Tuna!
Continuing on the modding theme. I got an SKX007 thinking I'd keep it stock because I like the design. However I've come to realise that the original bezel insert is rubbish. It's just painted metal. Elsewhere on the watch there are lovely machined polished and brushed surfaces. Th metal/silver bits on the bezel insert look like Airfix silver paint.
I think at some point I'd like to change it to a ceramic insert of an identical design, probably an aftermarket one or one from another (more expensive) Seiko, if it would work.
It also made me wonder what the first mods for the SKX were? Was it the bezel insert?
The Tissot there... try pronouncing PRX as if it were someone’s contraction of a word, shorthand as it were - like TDS is tedious, PRX is p***ks?
So that’ll be a no from me.
@dmorts - re SKX007 mods, you may be right, I’ve not seen a definitive history of modding that particular watch, I think it’s something that’s just sort of grown over a few years. The standard inserts are pretty much the same as all sports/dive watches since they were first introduced about fifty years ago, ie anodised aluminium. Ceramic ones are a much more recent innovation, and there are loads available from a variety of sources. The one in my photos above fitted to my ‘Tuna’ homage was bought with the intention of fitting it to an SKX007 I was going to mod into a Tuna, but I discovered the cost was rather more than I anticipated after I saw the Heimdallr in the photo, so I sold on the SKX and bought the watch above.
Be aware, though, that changing the insert ideally requires removing the bezel because the insert needs removing from the back, then any adhesive left removed with acetone and the new insert stuck in place - you can just use an ordinary clear glue, or you can get proper pre-cut 3M adhesive circles to stick to the back of the new ceramic insert, which is what I used.
My insert came from these people, I reckon you ought to be able to find something you like!
https://lcbistore.com/
@Bullet - thank you, I’m really pleased with it now, I’ve never really like the ‘arrow’-style hands that Seiko use, I’d bought the hands and face for the original SKX007 mod project, along with the ceramic insert, but the two Heimdallr watches in the first photo probably only cost a bit more that the total cost of the Tiger mod to turn the SKX007 into a Tuna.
It was only when the date mechanism on the Tuna broke and it needed a new movement that I took the opportunity to use the face, hands and insert, and I couldn’t be happier with it. The other one is a Heimdallr ’homage’ SKX007/MarineMaster 300 mod, so I’ve got two variations on Seiko ‘mods’, both with Seiko movements.
I don’t think Heimdallr do the SKX007/MM300 any more, or the face; mine has ‘Limited Edition’ in tiny letters at the bottom, so I’ve got a bit lucky buying when I did.
Your SKX is not getting much wear since my new Komanderskie arrived at Christmas @countzero it is getting a couple of days out at the moment. @dmorts, agree it wants a better insert and I'll take a look at any suggestions too. Might be worth buying a new bezel to put it in and keep the original if it's in good nick.
It's only since getting into this thread that I found watch modding is a thing! Some intricate work there. It has also got me buying more watches than I need but getting real pleasure from it.
Might be worth buying a new bezel to put it in and keep the original if it’s in good nick.
I should have thought of that, it’s possibly a good option, although getting bezels off without damaging anything is a bit fraught, and the coin-edge bezel I bought to fit my other Heimdallr doesn’t seem to share the same fitting, like the click mechanism.
Replacing the insert on the Tuna was a real pain, because the bezel’s an absolute flush fit to the case, and shows no practical way to prise it off. I accidentally knocked the little ’pip’ that has the lume in off the bezel, so tried using the little hole to lever the insert out, then tried soaking it in WD40 for twelve hours, with no effect.
Then I tried dribbling small amounts of acetone onto the insert, and tried again, pushing the insert around with a large sewing needle, and with some effort it started to move!
Once it started, with a bit more acetone it suddenly spun round and fell out!
Result and a big sigh of relief. A good clean with acetone to remove all the old adhesive and the lumed ceramic insert dropped straight in.
I might contact Heimdallr via their Fb page and see what bezel and insert might fit the MM300 above - the ceramic insert I fitted to the Tuna was too small in diameter to fit the MM300 bezel, so there’s clearly a fair bit of variation going on.
@tthew - I go through phases with mine, the Yema only gets worn if I have a prolonged period when I’m not working, and I haven’t worn my Seiko SPORK for several years.
The MM300 is getting less wear now I’ve got the Tuna completely sorted, but that’ll change at some point.
Good thing I’ve got too many outgoings at the moment, I can’t justify indulging in any more watches, I was very tempted by Heimdallr’s recent monocoque Tuna, with 1000 metre water-resistance and gold PVD details...
Then there’s the recent Yema NavyGraf with their new in-house movement...
The standard inserts are pretty much the same as all sports/dive watches since they were first introduced about fifty years ago, ie anodised aluminium.
Ah ok, I did some research. I think with the bezel being anodised it will age better than I thought. One downside with ceramic inserts is they are more prone to shattering. I'm going to stick with OEM for now.
However, the current bezel doesn't line up at 12 (luckily the chapter ring and dial do). This is something I'd like to try and fix. Also the lump pip looks like it has a dent/line in it. So ideally I'd like to remove the insert and realign it, replacing the lume pip too. Alternatively I could get a new OEM bezel and hope it aligns better.
I will have to weigh up living with a wonky watch or potentially ruining it trying to fix it. Can bezels be removed easily? I have a case back opener.
I will have to weigh up living with a wonky watch or potentially ruining it trying to fix it. Can bezels be removed easily? I have a case back opener.
It's been a doddle to remove the bezel on all the SKX's I've had. Cover the case with tape to prevent scratching and a small thin knife between the case and bezel to pop it.
Think this was asked a month or so back by another user but don't think it got an answer.
Does anyone know if the costs of purchasing from Creation watches is likely to have gone up? It was outside of the EU anyway but not sure what all the new rules etc are?
Cheers
Yep, I went though this although didn't complete with Steinhart. Basically over £135 deduct local tax, then add back 20% (UK VAT) of the value and the couriers handling fee (was £11.50 for a watch via DPD) which you pay to the courier on delivery
Anybody else think Zenith have made a stunning watch for once with the chronometer sport? White dial version, stunning.
I will have to weigh up living with a wonky watch or potentially ruining it trying to fix it. Can bezels be removed easily? I have a case back opener.
You don’t need a case-back opener. What you can try is what I did with my Heimdallr Tuna above, where I explained that the bezel is flush fitted, without an undercut to allow a thin blade or other tool to get a purchase and prise the bezel off. The fact that the insert seems to be misaligned indicates that the adhesive holding it in place has aged and constant wear allowed the insert to ‘creep’ slightly, so get some high-strength acetone, the sort for removing gel nail tips, and some cotton buds. Try a tiny amount at first, to make sure the acetone doesn’t mar the surface - it shouldn’t, anodising is a photochemical process, IIRC, so should be proof against most normal solvents, then soak the bud in acetone and allow it to run around the edges of the insert. Give it a few goes, because it’s going to evaporate fairly quickly, and get something you can use to push against the lume ‘pip’ with, a wooden lolly stick or something; I used a cocktail stick on mine. The insert should start to rotate and then come free; then you can clean all the old adhesive off both surfaces, and put new adhesive onto the bezel and press it back into place, getting the alignment spot-on. You can buy special pre-cut 3M adhesive, or just get some double-sided tape and stick on the back, then use a sharp, pointed blade to carefully cut around the inside and outside of the insert.
There’s lots of instructions on the web about replacing bezel inserts, most relying on the bezel being removed, but it can be done without, just with care.
My Yema chronograph and my TAG-Heuer Night Diver have alloy bezel inserts, and neither will be replaced, they have a quality and aesthetic that is right for the periods they were made - late 1960’s and mid-1980’s, but ceramic inserts do give greater scope for customising, and while they can be shattered, (and I’m not sure what such an impact might do to the watch), alloy is relatively soft, and very easily scratched and gouged, and abraded, and bent permanently if mis-handled while removing, so it’s easy to see why ceramic is being used so much now.
You couldn’t really make a fully-lumed alloy insert like you can ceramic with the brightness of the one on my Tuna, for example.
Just take your time, and you should have a successful result - I was desperately trying to figure out a way of getting the original ceramic insert out, in the end it was really very easy, took longer to get the old adhesive off the bezel in the end!
@CountZero The reason the bezel insert is misaligned is because it's a Seiko. It's a new watch. I could perhaps see about going to Seiko under warranty. However, from reading around what they consider as acceptable alignment has huge tolerances
Does anyone know if the costs of purchasing from Creation watches is likely to have gone up? It was outside of the EU anyway but not sure what all the new rules etc are?
I used the Royal Mail option and my Creation Watches order shipped from a UK address. There was no duty to pay. I was prepared to pay the duty if it was applicable though
neilnevill
Free Member
Anybody else think Zenith have made a stunning watch for once with the chronometer sport? White dial version, stunning.Posted 16 hours ago
I don't like it when it's just a product shot. It's all a bit busy with the different coloured subdials, the badly positioned date etc but when you see it on the wrist it looks really good. I'd like it more of it was a bit bigger I think but again, seeing it in the flesh might be different.
I like the colour sub dials, not gawdy but a bit of interest.
Anyone else struggling with the watch love at the moment?
I've got a reasonable selection available to me and had eyes on a couple more, but right now they're just not being worn.
I tend to wear different watches for different occasions and as the only thing I do now is sit in the home office (G-Shock that is my "home" watch) and run (Forerunner 645) most haven't been worn on months.
Bit of a shame really.
Not struggling but I have settled on wearing the Pantor most of the time as it's just so comfy with my Instinct used for sleep tracking and being out with the dog or whatever.
I've got a couple I might get rid of which I no longer wear just to free up some space and help justify a new addition. They're not worth loads so no incentive to sell though really - just a Timex and a basic G-Shock.
Ordered before Brexit and arrived after!
Looks like it got it's Royal Mail tracking number on 29th December
Cheers for that. Sounds like you just squeezed through.
I'm after an orient if anyone knows a decent UK distributor?
Otherwise, the watch is only £170 on creation so shouldn't get stung with too many fees?
Anyone else struggling with the watch love at the moment?
I've only got three pretty basic watches, two of which are quartz but have just gone back to my Seiko Sarb017 Alpinist after a few months of not wearing it and it's just such a nice watch!
There's aren't many places doing Orient in the UK, which model are you after?
Anyone able to help on this one - I've a Seiko Solar Divers 200 - hadn't worn it in while so had the battery changed but it has just stopped working altogether - like it as a watch so want to see if there's anything I can do to fix - any solutions ?
Has it had enough light to stay charged? Maybe stick it in a bright light for a few hours and see if that does anything?
Tried that - left it in the window for a few days but no change - also wore it for a few days as well to see if that worked but again, no joy
I guess options are pay someone like these guys £107 for full service and repair, or buy a cheap (probably non-solar) movement and do some fettling yourself.
If its a solar, might the dial be an integral part of the mechanism? Swapping the movement may not be so straightforward.
Very good point. I'd pay for the repair if fond of it.
I'll check them out - it's an SNE245 Solar Air Diver, so repair may be as much as the watch is worth.
Thanks for the help.
Tried that – left it in the window for a few days but no change – also wore it for a few days as well to see if that worked but again, no joy
You get remarkable little solar energy through a pane of glass, or when a watch is worn on your wrist. There’s tables you can Google (or watch instruction booklets usually quite the variation in charging times).
If your watch is truly empty is could take days even weeks to come back indoors especially in the Winter light - stick it outside which will pretty much speed up the solar absorption may times - for a couple of days.
I let a new gshock go flat last year which took three days outside in direct sunlight during the heatwave to get to full capacity.
A friend had a similar issue with a solar Seiko, he replaced the capacitor which fixed it. How handy are you with a soldering iron?
Thanks, Kelvin - I'll try the outside option first
@Umo - where would you get the right capacitor ?
From a quick Google looks like a V158 movement which needs one of these. Might not work, but might be worth a try.
99% of the time with a dead solar watch, it's the capacitor.
I got a nice blue Orient Kamasu in September last year from TUS watches. UK company with fast delivery. I can recommend them. I got the rubber strap version but upgraded the strap to a blue waffle strap (I think its called) and very pleased. Gains about 4 seconds a day on average which I think is quite good.
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